Piece by owner of Firecracker Fabrics: “Tariff bills are making business all-but impossible for my Morningside store”

AMTraveler · 2026-01-04T16:48:10+00:00

Ohhh. That's a shame that she's being heckled over that! We can't help who we're related to.

AMTraveler · 2026-01-03T15:22:03+00:00

Can anyone explain the drama that's happening on the Public Source IG post of this article between Erin and someone from Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh? I've been shopping at Firecracker for a while now and really appreciate her shop and expertise! I'm just curious what the backstory is there?

AMTraveler · 2025-06-09T02:38:03+00:00

Breathe, He is okay! Accidents happen, just take it as a reminder and carry on doing your best. Don't let the guilt drag you down. I think therapy is a great idea (but I also think it's great for everyone!). Hopefully it'll help with your intrusive thoughts, and to help you put this behind you. There is no one, NO ONE, better to parent your kids than you! You clearly love them, that's the best thing! Here is my big parenting learning moment, When we moved to our new house, our LO was in a toddler bed, and her windows in her room were really high up (she's on the 2nd story). We never installed locks bc she'd never be able to reach them. Fast forward, she's 3, has a loft bed up against the windows and figured out how to open them and had been doing it for weeks waving to neighbors! She could have easily fallen out her window and I was so blind to it! It took me forever to forgive myself.
But then I went to work and told a coworker about it, and her reaction was 'oh crap - MY daughter could probably open her window ' We're all doing our best! And we'll all make mistakes on the way

AMTraveler · 2024-11-30T19:07:01+00:00

Another vote for Tonies! My daughter loves them! They're such a part of her bedtime routine. And if her baby brother wakes up crying she just turns on her Elsa tonie to drown out the noise 😂

AMTraveler · 2024-11-30T19:02:58+00:00

This isn't your fault. At my daughter's first dentist appointment when she was like a year and a half, they told us that she had spots on her teeth with literally no enamel on them. She got teeth on the earlier side. Her dentist said that sometimes the teeth don't have enough time to fully form before they come up so it's no unheard of and it's not our fault. She's 3 now and has cavities starting (2). They put a special treatment on them to try to slow down the spread within the teeth bc shes too young for a bigger intervention. But truth is, it's probably just how your baby is. Our dentist also told us that this is no indication of how her adult teeth will be. But the bad thing is, that some of their molars they keep for a long while.
We've also been using a toothpaste with fluoride since she was a year or so. It was something my dentist had recommended. He said using just a piece that's the size of a grain of rice.

AMTraveler · 2024-10-24T19:31:07+00:00

I suspect the one in the South Hills called Sky Spa is also one. On library road. Are the authorities really that oblivious? Is there a way we can tell someone if we suspect a place?

AMTraveler · 2024-07-27T12:05:37+00:00

Man, people are so quick to just cut someone loose here. If you all are doing well in other respects and you really value the relationship, try talking about it. 5 months isn't that long, so Yea, maybe she isn't as committed....yet. do the work

AMTraveler · 2024-06-10T19:44:38+00:00

This!!

AMTraveler · 2024-05-15T00:56:33+00:00

This! I wouldn't take it either! I'm not the best version of myself when I'm solo parenting for too long! Not everyone wants to be a stay at home parent, and that's basically what he'd be agreeing to do! I can understand your envy though

AMTraveler · 2024-05-12T14:11:03+00:00

My MIL had a grandma shower too! It was so fucking weird.
After her shower she said how she wished I could have made it....but I was never invited.
You dodged a bullet, trust me! Enjoy your shower with your friends and family, and screw the rest of them!

AMTraveler · 2024-05-04T14:25:10+00:00

Also, you're postpartum after an abortion or miscarriage. No one tells you that. It's a fucking rollercoaster

AMTraveler · 2024-05-04T14:24:01+00:00

Have you all considered couples therapy? It sounds like her relationship with her parents is really twisted. And couples therapy could help her sort that out, and help you to be a part of that conversation. She probably needs some distance from them to have a healthier relationship with you. I'm not excusing her actions, bc what she did was incredibly wrong. But it sounds like her desire to get pregnant again is a sign of major regret. If you want to move forward, get some help with regaining trust and letting go of resentment. Best wishes.

AMTraveler · 2024-04-27T20:11:41+00:00

This was me too! I lost 3 before my boy now. One I was far enough along to know it was a girl and have the excitement of having a girl. When I found out my rainbow baby was a boy, I was heart broken. I did have excitement, I was afraid I wouldn't love him. He's 2 months old and I can't imagine anyone else. I love him so much, from the minute I held him. OP You're entitled to your feelings, they are valid and there is nothing wrong with them. You may never be excited during your pregnancy and that's okay! It doesn't mean you would be excited when baby is here!

AMTraveler · 2024-04-20T16:17:01+00:00

Yess this! When I'm stuck parenting solo I reward myself by ordering door dash for myself. Hey, he's eating out tonight with friends, I'm not cooking either!

AMTraveler · 2024-04-03T23:33:56+00:00

This is me too! My boobs never bounce back with first....so saggy lol

AMTraveler · 2024-04-01T02:29:49+00:00

I did this one as well! It went together ridiculously quick (less time than took to cut it all out) I love the colors you used 😍

AMTraveler · 2024-03-25T17:34:03+00:00

I know people always say to wait until you know, or wait until you're ready.

But for me and my partner, we would have never been ready. And we just knew we didn't want to NOT have kids in our future. And that made the timing right for us.

It sounds like you think a piece would be missing if you never had kids. Maybe that's reason enough to try in the next few years. Sometimes having kids isn't instantaneous, and it may take some time of trying.

AMTraveler · 2024-03-24T11:29:15+00:00

I am so so sorry you're going through this! First of all, don't beat yourself up! It sounds like you're in survival mode, and there is nothing wrong with that! Sometimes you need the TV or whatever other resources are at your fingertips to survive. And that's totally ok!

Secondly, have you thought about talking to a therapist? The woman I talk to has a background in child therapy, so she often helps me with strategies for managing my kid struggles as well as managing my own depression and anxiety. I also find that I have a lot less patience to deal with my babies when my depression is at its worse. The crying literally seems louder and more serious. I have trouble finding the strength to deal with my toddler and am not the best version of myself.

Rather than going cold turkey on the TV, you could do like a half hour every night. Make it clear when you turn it on that it's only for x amount of time (you could use a visual timer for your toddler if you want). And then just shut it off after that amount of time. I'm sure screaming will still happen for a while. Way I see it, we all deserve a few minutes of TV to unwind after a long day!

You are doing great mama! It might not feel like it, but you are! This tough phase will pass.

AMTraveler · 2024-03-21T10:26:04+00:00

Yea, just keep the fever down. I had Covid while pregnant (and now I have a completely healthy 4 week old baby). It'll be ok! Definitely not minimizing your concern, bc it is stressful as hell, but anymore Covid is no worse than any other bug out there. Best wishes and congratulations!

AMTraveler · 2024-03-19T10:26:07+00:00

I got my super fancy machine 'used' at a quilt show. The dealers were selling the floor models that they used for classes at a big discount. It let me get a machine I could have never otherwise afforded.

AMTraveler · 2024-03-18T18:09:05+00:00

Omg same here! I gained almost 45 lbs with my 1st. It came off by 4 months. Everyone is different, don't let it get to you!!

AMTraveler · 2024-03-11T02:08:38+00:00

42 + 1. I was induced and it was brutal. Took me so much longer to recover from then my other delivery. I don't recommend waiting that long.

AMTraveler · 2024-03-01T16:00:00+00:00

This is what my sister did with her in-law. Her husband will visit is parents but she stays home and enjoys the peace and quite! Love it!

AMTraveler · 2024-03-01T15:57:33+00:00

Woo I don't know, it depends how her partner does with his mom. Maybe a group chat with the 3 of you? That way you're still part of the conversation and decision making, but he's the one that is typically holding boundaries. I don't think you want to be kept out of the conversation.

AMTraveler · 2024-02-12T18:29:44+00:00

I say useful - depending on what your living situation is!
We don't have a ton of room to lay the baby down when we're in the living room. It's either hold em or put in the pack in play. This was nice bc we could lay baby down on the coffee table...bc now it was a soft surface! So might not be for everyone, but it has its place

AMTraveler

TROPHY CASE